A NORTH Wales nurse is off to Australia to investigate the success of so-called "shooting galleries".

Wrexham-based Jillian Timmins is using a Florence Nightingale travel scholarship for Wales to fund her trip.

The nurse, a consultant in substance misuse, will examine the impact of the supervised injecting rooms for drug users in Sydney.

It was the first city in the world to introduce the medically-supervised centres.

Jillian said yesterday: "The Home Affairs Select Committee recommended these centres should be established in the UK.

"After further considerations the home secretary, David Blunkett decided the government would only fund pilot studies into such centres for patients to administer prescribed medication rather than illicit drugs.

"The experience in Australia has shown these centres help reduce the risks to drug users by having trained staff available to help in the event of an overdose.

"They also encourage safer injection practice, which help reduce the spread of infections such as HIV and hepatitis.

"They have reduced the number of discarded syringes being found in public areas and the incidence of injecting in public places.

"Of course we must remember misuse of drugs is illegal.

"These centres are not about encouraging drug use and clinical staff cannot help users inject themselves. However, by providing a controlled environment for injections, the risks posed to both the general public and the individual drug user may be reduced.

"I want to learn from the experience of colleagues in Australia to see how well these centres are working, to assess the benefits and risks that are associated with them and identify whether this is a model of care that would bring advantages to the UK."

The award is made by the Florence Nightingale Foundation, which raises funds to provide scholarships for nurses, midwives and health visitors to study at home and abroad.